Metal-wheel-welding machine



Aug. 18, 1925.7 mom J. A. CHARTER METAL WHEEL WELDING MACHINE Filed June25, 1921 2 Sheeas-Sheei 1 i GHAFQTER HE'FAL WHEEL. WELDING Mmmm FiledJune 25, M321 Patented Aug., 18, 1925.,

UNITE@ STATES PATENT QFFIC.,

JAMES A. CHARTER, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METAL-'WHEEL-XUELDING MACHINE.

Application led .Tune 25, 1921.

T0 all w fiom z5 may concern Be it known that l, JAMES A. CHARTER. acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and usefulimprovementin lfetal-lllheel-llelding Machines, of which the followingis as iecication.

As is iwell understood in the art, it is now common automobile practiceto use metal wheels made up of a hub, a rim, and one or morel discswelded to the rim and the hub. n making such wheels wherever and howeverused there is serious difficulty in positioning the metallic disc ordiscs with reference to the rim so that when welded a true wheel isproduced.

rlfhe object of this invention is to provide a more or less automaticmachine in which the rim is accurately centered with reference to andheld at right angles to the axis of the wheel to be produced in whichthe disc or discs to be welded thereto is accuratelv positioned in therim and with reference to said wheels center and in which cach disc canbe by continuous operation welded to the rim, or hub, or both, tothereby form in one sino'le machine, in one single welding operation anaccurately constructed wheel of the type described.

The invention consists in a machine capable of carrying out theforegoing objects7 which can be easily and economically made, which isadjustable in all necessary directions to accommodate wheels and partsthereof of different sizes and in which the welding agent or material.is fed continuously along the lilies to be welded, without theassistance of expensive manual labor, heretofore required in performingthe welding operation. The invention further consists in many featuresand details of construction, more fully set forth in the specificationand claims.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals designate the sameparts thruout the several views,

Figure l is a side elevation, partially in section, of mechanismillustrating this invention in its preferred form when applied to theoperation of welding one of the discs to the rim.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the wheel retaining` mechanism of Figurel, showing the addition of necessary parts applied to Figure l to holdthe hub and second disc in Serial No. 480,280.

place preparatory to welding these parts in place.

The machine is conventionally mounted on floor stand l0, havingextending upward from its center a hub l2 in which is rotatably mounteda shaft 14, detachably securablc in non-rotative position by set screw16. The upper end of shaft 14 carries a table 18 across which isslidable transversely a second table 2O adapted to be controlled by aconventional slow motion screw 22 and hand wheel 24. Rising from thissecond table 2O is a standard 26 to whose upper end is pivotally mountedan arm 28 held in place by a conventional form of lock screw and handlemechanism 30 by means of which the angular position of the arm 2S, withreference to the standard 26 may be adjusted.

The arm 28 carries on its end a bearing hub 3Q and an extension 39thereof, in which is liournaled a shaft 34 carrying at its lower endcollar 36 held in place by a locl nut 38. Extension 39 carries a crosshead 40 held in place by a` set screw 42. The upper portion of shaft 34carries a thrust collar 44, bearing on the and of cross head 40, betweenU- shaned arms 46 extending from the cross head. Journaled in the arms46 is a laterally extending shaft 48 carrying a worm 50 meshing with theworm wheel mounted as shown in Figure 2 on shaft 34. Also carried onshaft 34 in the particular case illustrated, Figure 2, integraltherewith is a saucer shaped disc 54 of suitable size for the receptionof the wheel rim 58 and wheel discs 60 and 62.

Pivoted to the circumference of saucer shaped disc 54 on suitablepivot-al bearings 6l, are a plurality of separated swinging clamp arms64 adapted to, as shown in the figures, embrace the wheel rim 58. Asuflicient number of these clamp arms are located at separated pointsaround the circumference of the disc 54 so thaty the wheel rim may besupported at suflicient points to hold it rigidly concentric wit-h theaxis of shaft 84. Each of these clamp arms is provided at its outer orfree swinging end with a right angularly turned end 64a, thru which ispassed a threaded screw 68 manipulatable by thumb nut 70 to cause abearing block 72 conventionally journaled on the end of the screw 68 tobe reciprocated backward and forward as the case may be to cause the rimengaging angular plate 'Z4 carried by the f A I block T2 t i press intoengagement with or to be Withdrauvn Afrom the edge ot' the flange 70 otthe Wheel rim The saucer shaped disc 54 is preferably made oit such adilameter that when a` 1wheel rim is put in place as shown in the ligureswith its rim flange 78 bearing in a suitably it'ormed sur` tace S0 onthe disc, provided tor it. the rim Will be accurately centered andpositioned at right angles to the ais et' the shatt B-land the operatorcan then by simply swinging the arms (Sl to the positions shown inthdimviiicgsq and manipulating' the screws i0 clamp it in place, inwhich position it is held by the devices described during' the. 'Weldingoperation et applying the inner discs e0 and except as hereatter noted durine` the Welding' operation ot applying* the outer disc (32.

Having' positioned the ,vheel rim .78 in the manner described theoperator then applies inside the rim a positioning! die 82. the wheeldisc 60. a positioning central cone and a screw 8G entering' the end otshaft Sil. This positioning` die 82 and the conical member 811 are soconstructed that When assen'ibled as shovvn they accurately hold andposition the wheel disc in its exact proper position with reference tothe rim 58 to which it is to be Welded. The shatt 418` heretoforedescribed has coupled to it by any suitable means a motor mechanism otany conventional term., in the particular case here illustrated aelectric motor mounted on a bracket suspended trom the cross head l-O.1n the particular case here illustrated the motor 88 is et the variablelspeed type, conventionally shown as controlled by the resistancemechanism 92 inserted in circuit wires 100. to which current is suppliedtroni any suitable external source by conventional line vvires 102. Theobject of using the variable speed motor is so that the operator canaccurately con trol the speed rotation oit the disc it? and consequentlythe Wheel being torn'ied as may be required by the operator to insureproper continuous Welding atl.the line ot juncture between the rim andadjacent disc (30 or 02, it being Well understood in the welding` artthat in Welding` along` a line Welding;v does not take place at unitormspeed at all points. Suitably mounted on a stationary stand ard 10ivwhich in the particular case here illustrated happens to be an extension10G et the base 10, is a vertically adjustable rod 108, detachablysecurable in place by a set screw 110. rllransversely slidable acrossthe rod 108 is i horizoi'ital rod 112 detachably securable in positionby such a screw 111i. Suitably suspended trom the end ot rod 112 on apivotal connection controlled by set screw 118 is a head mechanism 120carrying a Wire teeding mechanism. The -wire referred to. indicated inFigure 1 as 122, may be oi" pure solder or alloy adapted when inseamelectrically fused at the point 124 to effect electric Welding bet-Weenthe Wheel parts adjacent thereto. This Wire 122 may bc provided in shortpieces or 'from a continuous roll carried by reel pivotally mounted at128 in the suitable trame 130 secured to the head 120.

The loiver or Working' portion ot the wire is temporarily rigidly heldby a clampng mechanism 132v ot conventional Ytorni ou a verticallyreciprocatable rod lili controlled by feed mechanism carried within thehead 120 supplied by electric current by Wire 13S controlled by electricswitch H0.

This feeding device 1230 may be o1 any conventional torni el? mechanism,such tor instance as that common in the electric light art 'torprogressively feeding the upper carbon et a lamp, as it burns avay. Themechauism is used in this instance, u'ithout claim as to detail tor'feeding and holding the Wire 122 in proper fusingv position VwhileWelding the wheel parts together.

rllhe Welding circuit thru the wire and the Work is completed byallowingv the carrent after passing the arc at 1211 to pass thru themachine and thence return via vvire 142 bach to switch and thence to thetee'l line 102.

in the operation oi" the parts thus tar described the operator assembleseverything as shown in Figure 1 and then manipulates switch 140 to causethe current to lieu' thi-1.

the Wire 122 into the werk. @n completn ing this circuit7 the operatorstarts the motor tlt to rotate the disc il and adjusts the speed ot' themotor as is required so that u'hen the machine has made one completerevolution about the. axis et the sliat't Si. the disc G0 will becompletelyY welded at all points around the circumference et rim 5%Where there is contact. lilavinr completed this rotation ot the Wheelparts. the operator opens switch 14:0 and stops motor rilhe operatornouv removes screw 5%(3 and block substitutes in place thereoi anotherscrew 1;'16, another block '1I/lf3. the wheel disc (32` wheel hub 1507another block 152, and a thumb nut 1511-. On turning` up this latterthumb nut the outer disc assembled in proper position and all theoperator has to do is to apply the Wire 122 at the line ot contact tomalte a Weld betu'een this dise` and the rim, While the Wheel .isproperly rotated asbe'tore. in case, in so rotating the disc 'tor thislatter Weldingl iurierationl` a given clamping device Gti-Tilis in theway et the Wire 122 the operator can in the obvious manner temporarilyrelease the particular clamping device While the wire 12() is beingpassed by the part et the wheel which is clamped by that particularclamping device. The operator can then after the Wire is passed, restorethat particular clan'iping device to normal position shoivn ieu lill

and open the next clamping device when it reaches the Wire.

The blocks 14S and 152, referred to, are oppositely positioned coneshitting into the hub l5() and should be so accurately made that when thethumb nut 15a is rotated into place, thus moving the blocl; 152 towardthe bloclr 148 the Wheel will be accurately forced to centered positionon the central axis ot shaft 3st and held in accurate position it rightangles thereto so that the `[iniel Wheel Will be accurately made withits rr concentric with the proper airis Without the necessity otnrachining` the rim or resoldering, as has bee 'frequently required inthe prior art Where this machine is not used.

lly adjusting the rod llQ, With reference to the rod 10S and itnecessary adjusting` the latter rod vertically, the head 120 may bemoved as desired so that the Wire 122 may be used to solder or Weld theseam itl() between the hub l5() andthe 'lange (52 and to, When the Wheelis reversed in position with reference to the disc 5ft, Weld the seam162 between the hub l5() and the disc 60.

Obviously, by proper use of pivotal adjustment at 30, the adjusting'screw nd the vertically adjustable shalt le, the parts described may beused Within reasonable limits to ivorlr in any required positiondictated by the size or particular contigui-ation ot the Wheel to bemade.

Having` thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire tosecure by rietA ters Patent, is:

l. ln mechanism ot the class described, arotatable member, means'formounting thereon a disc and a separate concentric ring ready to beWelded together in a circular line of contact betiveen the disc and ringabout the airis ot said rotatable member, means tor supporting a Wire oisolder material or the like With its end at a point on said circularline. Where the Weld is to be made, means 'for supplying electriccurrent thru said Wire to the parts to be Welded, means lor rotating`the rotatable member and means for pi.'og'ressivelj7 feeding the Wire,as Weld takes place, to lreep it. in proper proximity to the line onwhich the Weld is to be made.

2. ln mechanism ot the class described, a rotatable member, means tormounting` thereon a discl and. a separate concentric ring ready to beWelded together in a circular line ot contact between the disc and ringabout the airis ot said rotatable member, means tor supporting a` Wireoit solder material or the like with its end at a point on said circularline Where the Weld is to be made, means lior supplying` electriccurrent thru said Wire to the parts to be Welded, means l'or rotating;the rotatable member, means tor progressively feeding the Wire, as Weldtaires place, to keep it in proper proximity to the line on Which theWeld .is to be made, and means for varying' the. speed ot rotation oithe rotatable member.

lil. ln mechanism of the class described, a rotatable member, n'ieansfor mountingv thereon a dis 'e and a separate concentric rino' read); tobe Welded together in a circular line ot contact between the disc andring' a iout the anis ol" said rotatable member, nzeans 'or supportingYa Wire of solder material or the lilte with its end at a peint on saidcircular line Where the W ld is to be madel means Ylor supplyingelectric current thru said vrire to the parts to be welded,

means lor rotating; the rotatable member, niet n. tor progressively tleding the wire, as

weld takes place, to lreep it in proper proximity to the line on whichthe Weld is to be made, and means tor adjusting` in substantially alldirections the position of the rotatable member ivith reterence to theWire.

et. ln .mechanism ot the class described, a rotatable member, inea-nstor mounting thereon a disc and a separate concentric ring" ready to beWelded together in a circular line ot contact between the disc and ringabout the airis oit said rotatable member, means for supporting vsire otsolder material or the like with its end at a point on said circularline where the u'eld is to be made, means tor supplying` electriccurrent thru said Wire to the parts to be welded, means 'tor rotatingthe rotatable member, means tor progressively feeding the Wire, as -feldtakes place, to keep it in proper proximity to the line on which theWeld is to be made, means iter .f'arying` the speed ot rotation ol therotatable member, and means for adjusting` in substantially alldirections the position of the rotatable member with relierence to theWire.

5. ln mechanism ot the class described, a rotatable member., means tormounting` thereon a disc and a separate concentric ring ready to bewelded together in a circular line oit contact between the disc and ringabout the airis of said rotatable member, means for supportine` a wireot solder material or the like with its end at a point ou said circularline Where the Weld is to be made, means ilor supplying electric currentthru said Wire to the parts to be Welded, means for rotating; therotatalgile member, means 'tor progressively feeding;` the Wire, as Weldtakes place, to keep it in proper proximity to the line on which theWeld is to be made, and means for vertically and laterally adjusting'the position ot the wire supporting apparatus with reference to therotatable member.

G. ln mechanism o'li the class described, a rotatable member, means formouintingg,` thereon a disc and a separate concentric ring ready to bewelded together in a circular line of contact between the disc and ringabout the axis et said rotatable. member,

lll)

means tor supporting a Wire et solder material or the like With its endat. a point on said circular line Where the Weld is t-O be made, meanstor supplying electric current thru said Wire to the parts Ato beWelded, means tor rotating the rotatable member, means ttorprogressively feeding the Wire, as Weld takes place, to keep it inproper proxiinity to the line on Which the Weld is to be made, means torvarying the speed ot rotation oi the rotatable member, and means :torvertically and laterally adjusting the position ot the Wire supportingapparatus With reterence to the rotatable member.

T. ln mechanism ot the cl ss described, a rotatable member, means tormounting thereon a disc and a separate concentric ring ready to beWelded together in a circular line ot Contact between the discI and ringabout the axis of said rotatable member, means for supportingl a Wire otsolder material or the like With its end at a point on said circulailineWhere the Weld is to be made, means ttor supplying electric current thrusaid Wire to the parts to be Welded, means tor rotating` the rotatablemember, means tor progrefV ively 'feeding the` Wire, as Weld takesplace, to keep it in proper proximity to the line on Which the Weld isto be made, means tor adjusting in substantiallj,v all directions theposit-ion ot the rotatable member With reterence to the Wire.` and meanstor vertically and laterally7 adjusting the position ot the Wiresupporting apparatus With reitereuce to the rotatable member.

8. lu mechanism oi the class described, a rotatable member, means tormounting thereon a disc and a separate concentric ring ready to beWelded together in a circula-r line oit contactI betWeen the disc andring about the axis ot said rotatable member, means tor supporting aWire ot solder n'iaterial or the like With its end at a point on saidcircular line Wherel the Weld is to be made, means for supplyingelectric current thru said Wire to the parts to be Welded, means 'forrotating the rotatable member, means tor progressively feeding the Wire,as Weld takes place, to keep it in. proper proximity to the line onWhich the Weld is to be made, means tor varying the speed ot rotation otthe rotatable member, means tor adjusting in substantially alldirections the position ot the rotatable member With re'terence to theWire, and means tor vertically and laterally adjusting theposition otthe Wire supporting apparatus With reference to the rotatable member.

9. ln mechanism ol the class described, a rotatable member, means torrotating` it, a support on the rotatable member, concentric With itsaxis adapted to receive a Wheel rim and a plurality of detachabledevices rigidly clamping the Wheel rim to said support in such positionthat the rim is concentric With the axis of rotation ot the rotatablemember.

lO. ln mechanism ot the class described, a rotatable member, means torsecuring a Wheel rim thereto With the axis oit' the rim coincident Withthe axis et the rotatable member, means tor supporting a Wheel disc insuch al position With reterence to the Wheel rim that When Weldedthereto the resulting Wheel part Will be at right angles to the axis otthe rotatable member, and means 'tor electrically Welding the disc tothe rim While held in that position.

ll. ln mechanism ot the class described, a rotatable member, means torsecuring a Wheel rim thereto With the axis et the rim coincident Withthe axis ot the rotatable member, means for supporting ra Wheel disc insuch a position With reterence to the Wheel rim that When Welded theretothe resulting Wheel part Will be at right angles to the` axis et therotatable member, means tor electrically Welding the disc to the rimWhile held in that position, means tor applying a second disc to the rimand tirst disc; simila-rly accurately positioning and finally Welding itin place.

l2. ln mechanism ont the class described, a rotatable member, means torsecuring a Wheel rim there-to With the axis oit the rim coincident Withthe axis ot the rotatable member, means tor supporting a Wheel 'disc insuch a position With reterence to the Wheel rim that When Welded theretothe resulting Wheel part Will be atright angles to the axis of therotatable member, means tor electrically Welding the disc to the rimWhile held in that position, nieans 'tor applying a Wheel hub and asecond disc to the rim and first disc, similarly accurately positioningthe second disc land finally Welding it in place.

13. ln mechanism ot the class described, a Wheel carrying rotatablemember, means 'for mounting Wheel parts in the position in Which theyare to be Welded together thereon .in such a position that the WheelWhen termed Will be substantially true With reterenoe to the axis ot therotatable member, mea-ns for rotating the Wheel carrier member, meanstor continuously suppl ying Welding material at a point ot juncture oit'tWo parts ot the Wheel to be Welded together, means for supplyingelectric current thru said Welding material and the Wheel parts, andmeans tor rotating the Wheel carrier member While current is being sosupplied to etli'ect al continuous circular Weld betWeen the Wheel partsWorked on, 'for the purposes set forth.

14;. ln mechanism of the class described, a saucer shaped dise 54, meanstor rot-ating it, swinging clamping |devices on the edge of said discadapted to engage and hold a Wheel. rim on said saucer shaped disc Withthe body of said rim at right angles to the axis of said dise.

15, ln mechanism of the class described, a saucer shaped disc 54C, meansfor rotating` it, swinging clamping` 'devices on the edge oit said discadapted to engage and hold a Wheel rim on said saucer shaped disc withthe body of said rim at right angles to the axis of said disc, means atthe center ot said saucer shaped disc comprising` a die 82 and a Wedgeblock 84, and means for forcing` them together adapted to position aWheel disc in the Wheel rim to such an accurate position that when theWheel disc is Welded to the Wheel rim an accurately formed Wheel isproduced Without subsequent mechanical treatment.

16. In mechanism of the class described, la rotatable member, means forsecuring a nemesi Wheel rim thereto With the axis of the rim coincidentwith the aXis of the rotatable member, means for supporting a Wheel discin such a position With reference to the wheel rim that When Weldedthereto the resulting` wheel part will be at right angles to the axis ofthe rotatable member, means for electrically welding1 the disc to therim While held in that position, means for applying a wheel hub and asecond disc to the rim and iirst disc, means positioning the hub andsecond disc axially ot' the first disc and rim7 and means finallyapplying said Welding mechanism to Weld the second disc to the rim.

ln Witness whereof, l have hereunto subscribed my name.

JAWS A. CHARTER.

